24 February, 2015 Geneva – Raging conflict and beleaguered health services are threatening the health of tens of millions of people across the Central African Republic, Iraq, South Sudan and Syria. To respond, the World Health Organization today called on the international community to provide $US1 billion to support its on-going efforts – and those of partners – to treat, immunize and provide the wide range of life-saving health services needed to populations in need.

The Syrian Arab Republic health situation

WHO/O. Sanadiki

15 June 2014 -- Since March 2011 estimated 160 000 people are killed and 750 000 injured. The continuing deterioration of the security, population displacement and constraints imposed on humanitarian operations has hampered the access to medical services, supplies and equipment. More people were displaced because of the clashes in Deir ez-Zor; heavy fighting, daily shelling, airstrikes and barrel bombing in Aleppo, Idleb, Hama, Daraa, Rural Damascus and Damascus governorates

Syria polio outbreak adds burden to an already damaged health system

WHO/EMRO/Syria

5 year-old Islam was one of the first confirmed polio cases in Syria

5 March 2014, Damascus – In an isolated room on the fifth floor of the children’s hospital in Damascus lay 5-year old Islam Hameed. She was one of the first confirmed polio cases identified in Syria last October. As of 5 March 2014, 25 polio cases have been confirmed in Syria, of which 17 were reported in Deir ez-Zor governorate. All children were very young and many aged 2 years or under, and were found to be un- or under-immunized.

Syrian essential medical needs for 2014 established

WHO/Christopher Black

27 January 2014 -- This year Syria will need more than US$ 450 million to provide essential and life-saving medicines and medical supplies to 9.3 million people in both in government- and opposition-controlled areas.At the meeting convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Damascus last week, national and international experts updated the essential medicines list. Beside supplies for treatment of conflict-related injuries, the list includes life-saving medicines and medical supplies needed for diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, reproductive health, as well as critical hospital equipment.